Food cravings and energy regulation: the characteristics of craved foods and their relationship with eating behaviors and weight change during 6 months of dietary energy restriction
Abstract
Objective To examine characteristics of craved foods in relation to dietary energy restriction (ER) with high (HG) and low glycemic load (LG) diets. Design Assessments of food cravings before and during a randomized controlled trial of HG and LG diets provided for 6 months. Subjects Thirty-two healthy, overweight women aged 20-42 years. Measurements Self-reported food cravings and dietary intake, body weight, weight history and measures of eating behaviors. Results Foods craved at baseline were more than twice as high in energy density as the habitual diet (3.7+/-1.5 vs 1.7+/-0.3 kcal/g; P<0.001), and on average were lower in protein (P<0.001) and fiber (P<0.001) and higher in fat (P=0.002). There were no statistically significant changes in nutritional characteristics of craved foods after 6 months of ER. There was a significant relationship between reported portion size of craved food consumed at baseline and lifetime high body mass index (r=0.49, P=0.005). Additionally, there was a significant association between susceptibility to hunger and craving frequency at baseline, and there were significant relationships between hunger score, craving frequency, strength and percentage of time that cravings are given in to after 6 months of ER. In multiple regression models, subjects who lost a greater percentage of weight craved higher energy-dense foods at month 6 of ER, but also reported giving in to food cravings less frequently (adjusted R (2)=0.31, P=0.009). Conclusion High energy density and fat content, and low protein and fiber contents were identifying characteristics of craved foods. The relationships between craving variables and hunger score suggest that the relative influence of hunger susceptibility on cravings may be important before and especially after ER. Portion size of craved foods and frequency of giving in to food cravings appear to be important areas for focus in lifestyle modification programs for long-term weight loss.
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Both physiological responses and psychosocial responses are malleable.
“In other words, both our physiological responses (the release of ghrelin to cue stomach grumbling at particular times [7]) and psychosocial responses (eat in the presence of food or in response to stress) are malleable.”
From Food and Mood: Just-in-Time Support for Emotional Eating (2013) · cites this paper as [8]
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- Authors
- Gilhooly, C. H., Das, S. K., Golden, J. K., McCrory, M. A., Dallal, G. E., Saltzman, E., Kramer, F. M., & Roberts, S. B.
- Affiliations
- Tufts University (US)
- United States Food and Drug Administration (US)
- Bastyr University (US)
- Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Roberts, S B
- Venue
- International Journal of Obesity
- Published
- 2007-06-26
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 1849-1858
- ISSN
- 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-5497
- OpenAlex
- W2092741976
- Cited by
- 190
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 3.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (U01 AG 20480, U01AG020480)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Dietary Effects on Health
- Keywords
- food cravings, energy regulation, hypocaloric diet, glycemic load, energy density, macronutrient composition, dietary habits, weight loss, overweight women, portion size, lifestyle modification
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Appetite, Energy Intake, Diet, Reducing, Energy Metabolism, Female, Food Preferences, Humans, Obesity, Regression Analysis, Satiation, Time Factors, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index, Glycemic Index
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